Safe Handling Policy

Safe Handling Policy
(April 2017)
Article 3
The best interests of the child must be a top priority in all
decisions and actions that affect children.
Rathmore Primary School has a primary responsibility for the care, welfare and
safety of our pupils. All teachers promote good behaviour within their class and
receive training in behaviour management strategies.
Procedures
There may be times when a member of staff may have to decide between using
reasonable force or standing back and allowing colleagues or pupils to face a
potential danger. There will always be an element of personal judgement in these
decisions. However, it is reasonable to expect a member of staff to engage in
some risk where there is evidence of danger to others.
Staff should not put themselves in personal danger to protect property.
Reasonable force/ safe handling can be used by a teacher or other authorised
person. It should be limited to emergency situations and used only as a last resort
when all other behaviour management strategies have been exhausted and
where:
action is necessary in self defence or because there is imminent risk of
injury to another pupil or person;
there is a developing risk of injury to another pupil or person, or significant
damage to property;
a pupil is behaving in a way that is compromising good order and
discipline.
Definition of Reasonable Force
The minimum force necessary to prevent a pupil from physically harming himself,
herself or others or seriously damaging property, but used in a manner which
attempts to preserve the dignity of all concerned.
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Forms of Reasonable Force
When other behaviour management strategies have failed, it should be the
minimum intervention or force used as a last resort and in a reasonable and
proportionate manner. It should be used only when absolutely necessary.
Limits on the use of force
Staff should not act in a way that might be expected to cause injury, for example
by:
holding around the neck
any hold that might restrict breathing
kicking, slapping or punching
forcing limbs against joint
holding or pulling by the hair
holding the pupil face down on the ground
Record Keeping
Any incident using reasonable force must be recorded with the Principal and
reported to the parent. A detailed report should be written immediately after the
incident which includes names of those involves, witnesses, time and place and the
reason why the force was necessary.
The Chairman of the Board of Governors and the Principal will review annually
entries in the incident book. These will be kept until a child’s 26 th birthday.
This policy should be read in conjunction with a range of other school policies
including:
Anti-bullying;
Behaviour.
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